Evaluation

Edit 0 31 …

Check Information Sources for

Credibility, Accuracy, Reliability and Suitability (CARS)


 When using the Internet as a data source, consultants should check that each website resource is credible, accurate, reliable, and suitable. Worldwide Weather Consultants must complete the Website Evaluation Form in the Consultant Guidebook to verify that the data sources used for this project meet these criteria before beginning data collection. The resources provided below will be helpful in completing this evaluation process.

Resources To Assist In Website Evaluation

  • Credibility (Who / What is the source of this information?)

    • Because anyone with an Internet connection can publish information on a website, it is important to know who is responsible for posting the information on the site and whether the author of the site is a credible source for the type of information posted.
      • Is the author or authors experts in the subject matter?
      • Do the authors of the site cite the sources for their information or data?

  • Accuracy (Is the information correct?)

    • Is the information accurate? Can the information be verified by another source?
    • Is the information on the website current? When was the last time the site was updated? Some types of information may change over time.

  • Reliability (Is the source reliable?)

    • Has the site been around for awhile? Will it be there next week, in case you need to go back and check your notes?
    • Is the site slow to load or does it frequently fail to load?

  • Suitability (Should I use this information?)

    • Is the information on this page suitable for my purposes?
    • Why is this source or the information on this source better than the information from another source?

Teachers Travel Project: Website Resources For Evaluation

  • For this project, consultants will evaluate the Weather Underground and Accuweather Websites for credibility, accuracy, reliability, and suitability using the Website Evaluation Form in their packet.